Because test results for vitamin B12 are judged in this country against a very low low for normal, I distrust the ranges which are applied to people.

For instance, as is reported in an article on my site, in Japan and some other countries the low for B12 is 550 because at that level they have been able to identify changes in cognition... not for the better.

So when the low here in the U.S. is 180 or 200, well, obviously that's a lot lower, so what kinds of things is the person experiencing, besides impaired cognition, for some 350 points before anything was said to be wrong...

I find it upsetting that the low in this country is so low.

I tried to get my doctors to give out the article on my site, but mostly they wanted to prescribe antidepressants as their preference.

I know for a fact, from having had consistent regular tests and keeping notes that when my B12 level falls below 900, I experience depression.

So a level of 1000 for me would be only minimally above the depression level.

Unless you keep notes, you will not know what is true for you.

One person may need very little B12 to improve and rebuild stores, but another person may need a lot more because perhaps their stores were depleted to a lower level, or maybe they deal with a lot of ongoing stress... there are all sorts of factors.

The only thing that is true for everyone, is that if they have symptoms of low B12 and they get B12 in a form their body can use, they will improve.

FACT.
































Rose wrote-

I have these references on the dosage and safety of B6. There is probably no reason to take more than 50-100mg a day unless treating a condition that warrants it (and there are some).

Vitamin B6 - Pyridoxine; Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate
Alternative Medicine Review, Feb, 2001

Safety, Toxicity, and Side Effects


"The use of supplemental P5P has not been associated with toxicity, although the inactive form, pyridoxine, has been associated with reports of peripheral neuropathy.[45] One hypothesis is that pyridoxine toxicity is caused by exceeding the liver's ability to phosphorylate pyridoxine to P5P, yielding high serum levels of pyridoxine which may be directly neurotoxic or may compete with P5P for binding sites, resulting in a relative deficiency.[46]
Mpofu et al reported electrophysiological and neurological examination of 17 homocystinuric patients who had been treated with 200-500 mg pyridoxine HC1 daily for 10-24 years, and found no evidence of neuropathy.[47] Most reported cases of neuropathy associated with pyridoxine supplementation have involved intake of at least 500mg/day for two years or more.[48] While there is no doubt that vitamin B6 can be neurotoxic in gross excess, there is considerable controversy over the way in which toxicological data have been translated into advised limits.[8] "

I have been diagnosed with mild depression and have been prescribed a low dosage of Prozac. The type of depression I have is not feeling sad or unhappy, its more being sluggish, tired, irritable, lack of motivation, etc. I have read on the internet that sometimes B12 can be helpful for depression. Should I consider taking a B12 supplement. If so, I have no idea what kind to take? I've noticed there are some that also have b6 and folic acid. Does that make easier to absorb, etc? Just looking for some help and advice.

Thanks for your help.

I have answered you on the other thread.

Just wanted to thank Rose for her time to put in a website with info and that answered questions as well as putting in additional websites' addresses with even more info. I know the last question that I saw that Rose answered was in 2007 with her website listed below but time doesn't matter, I found it today, and it confirmed what I started to believe about B12. I've been where you are, Rose, with Burning Mouth Syndrome, getting information out just because and I know it takes time so I just wanted to say thank you. Me, I've got a brain tumor, had radiation and have been having some weird symptoms no one can figure out where they came from. I've a sneaky idea B12 has something to do with it.

Aloha nui loa
angie4074